Director Jon Watts is calling out Hollywood’s obsession with remakes, urging the industry to revive creativity by focusing on fresh, original stories.
Speaking to Collider.com, the 44-year-old filmmaker didn’t hold back his frustration over the industry’s growing reliance on reboots and nostalgic cash grabs. Watts, best known for directing Marvel’s Spider-Man trilogy starring Tom Holland, emphasized the need for more mid-budget, original films to return to the big screen.
“I wish there were more original movies in theatres,” Watts said. “Original movies in, like, a medium scale.”
He explained that Hollywood has built a system around massive, high-stakes blockbusters — so expensive that studios are reluctant to take risks on new ideas. Instead, they turn to familiar IPs to guarantee ticket sales, often at the expense of creative storytelling.
“We’ve created this environment where everything has to be based on something you already recognize. They can’t be too risky,” he added.
In a tongue-in-cheek remark, Watts joked: “Let’s make a new Groundhog Day… wait, no! Let’s make a movie that feels like Groundhog Day felt the first time we saw it!”
His comments come amid ongoing criticism in Hollywood for its over-reliance on reboots, sequels, and recycled content. With studios betting big on recognizable titles, mid-budget original films — once the backbone of cinema — are becoming increasingly rare in theaters.
Watts’ plea is a call to action for filmmakers and studios alike: it’s time to stop rehashing the past and start telling new, bold stories that can stand the test of time.
